Same names dominate Eastern Visayas’ 12 seats in House of Representatives

TACLOBAN CITY, May 13 (PNA) -– The 12 seats in the House of Representatives for legislative districts in Eastern Visayas is still dominated by old faces as powerful clans strengthened their political clouts in their home provinces.

Out of the 12 newly-elected congressmen, only five are neophytes, but four of them had family members who are former and current members in the House of Representatives.

In Biliran province, Rep. Rogelio Espina (lone district), whose family controlled the province since its creation in 1992, ran unopposed in the May 9 elections.

In Leyte’s first district, Yedda Marie Romualdez will be the new representative, replacing her husband, outgoing Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who is tailing in senatorial race. The former beauty queen won by a landslide.

Businessman Henry Ong, ended the reign of veteran solon Rep. Sergio Apostol (2nd district), a current deputy speaker in the House of Representatives, whose family ruled the second congressional district since 1992.

In Leyte’s third district, Vicente Veloso, a retired Court of Appeals justice won in the congressional race. His face is new in politics, but not his family. His brother, Alberto represented the district from 1995 to 1998. Alberto’s son, Eduardo, replaced him from 1998 to 2007.

Actress-turned-politician Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez (4th district) and Rep. Jose Carlos Cari (5th district) maintained their grip on power after winning the congressional race in western and southern part of Leyte province.

In Samar’s first district, Edgar Mary, brother of former congressman and now Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento won on Monday’s elections.

Rep. Milagrosa Tan, the matriarch of Samar’s hard to beat political clan retained in power as representative of Samar’s second district.

Likewise, Rep. Ben Evardone succeeded his re-election bid in Eastern Samar’s lone district.

In Northern Samar, incumbent Rep. Harlin Abayon led the count by a very small margin over former Rep. Raul Daza in the first district.

On the other side of Northern Samar, Edwin Marino Ongchuan will replace his father, Rep. Emil Ong (2nd district) after running unopposed in this year’s polls.

In Southern Leyte’s lone district, Governor Roger Mercado will swap post with brother, Rep. Damian in Congress, after serving as local chief executive for three years. Both of them won in the local elections. (PNA)
FFC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO